16 RAPTORES. AQUILA. Eagle. 



never to be used, but for the purpose of tearing up their 

 prey when dead. 



Part of the fur is generally swallowed, and afterwards dis- 

 gorged with the bones, &c. in large pellets or castings, by 

 the mouth ; but they display some adroitness in skinning an 

 animal, and birds are in general partially plucked with great 

 dexterity. 



They rarely drink, but during the heat of summer are 

 very partial to washing themselves. 



The Female becomes noisy at the approach of spring, and 

 is observed to be particularly clamorous previous to wet or 

 stormy weather. 



General Plate I. A female bird. — Bill bluish at the base, the tip 



descnp- black. Cere lemon-yellow. Irides orange-brown. Pri- 



tion. _ -^ *' _ 



Adult bird. mary quills black ; the secondary ones clouded with 



hair-brown, broccoli-brown, and umber-brown. Crown 

 of the head, and nape of the neck, pale orange-brown, 

 the feathers occasionally margined with white, narrow, 

 elongated and distinct. Chin and throat, dark umber- 

 brown. Vent pale reddish- brown. Tail pale broccoli- 

 brown, barred with blackish-brown, and ending in a 

 broad band of the same colour. Tarsi clothed with 

 pale reddish-brown feathers. Toes naked, yellow. 

 Claws black, very strong, and much hooked. 



Plate 1 *. The same bird, in a different attitude. 



y ^ Plate 2. Represents the young or immature bird of this 



bird. species, generally known by the name of the Ring-tail 



Eagle, in about two-fifth parts of the natural size. This 



bird, of one year old, is now alive, and in the possession 



of Sir William Jardine, Bart. -f*. Bill having the 



•f I have since had the gratification of witnessing the progressive changes 

 from adolescence to maturity in this individual. It is almost unnecessary 

 to add, that at the age of four years it exhibited the appropriate plumage 

 of the Golden Eagle. 



